The October 2012 issue of Songlines is on sale in the UK from August 31 and includes our regular Top of the World CD with ten tracks from the finest new releases from around the planet. The Top of the World CD also includes five tracks selected by contemporary theatre and opera director, Peter Sellars.

Features• Staff Benda Bilili – A personal diary from Kinshasa, by two men who work closely with the band as they record their latest album. • NASA – Music for Aliens – The American space agency’s musical launch. Simon Broughton examines the contents of the Voyager interstellar record. • Darbar Festival – A look at the London-based festival that is set to showcase some of the sublime, rare ragas that are often overlooked. • Krar Collective – Tim Cumming chats to the trio who have emerged from the Éthiopiques generation. • Nino Biton – The Arab-Andalusian oud player making his debut on the world stage.